Device and method for detecting the position of a vehicle seat

Abstract

A device and a method for detecting the position of a vehicle seat which can be linearly displaced along a seat rail ( 20 ) relative to a vehicle floor. The seat rail ( 20 ) has a first rail and a second rail which can be displaced relative to one another, in particular, an upper rail ( 21 ) and a lower rail ( 22 ). The device ( 100 ) has a first detection device ( 30 ), which is arranged on the first rail and a first permanent magnet ( 40 ) as well as a second permanent magnet ( 41 ), which are arranged on the second rail. The first permanent magnet ( 40 ) and the second permanent magnet ( 41 ) are spaced apart from each other and their magnetic poles are aligned in opposite directions.

1 . A device ( 100 ) for detecting multiple, specifically at least three, preferably exactly three, discrete positions of a vehicle seat, the device comprising a seat rail ( 20 ) along which the vehicle seat is linearly movable relative to a vehicle floor, where the seat rail ( 20 ) includes a first rail and a second rail that are movable relative to each other, particularly an upper rail ( 21 ) and a lower rail ( 22 ) wherein a first detection device ( 30 ) is mounted on the first rail and a first permanent magnet ( 40 ) and a second permanent magnet ( 41 ) are mounted on the second rail, the first permanent magnet ( 40 ) and the second permanent magnet ( 41 ) are spaced apart in the direction of the seat's movement and their magnetic poles are oppositely oriented. 
     
     
         2 . The device ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that wherein the first detection device ( 30 ) is designed as a linear Hall sensor or as a Hall sensor with two detection axes. 
     
     
         3 . The device ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second detector device ( 31 ) which is arranged on the first rail. 
     
     
         4 . The device ( 100 ) according to  claim 3 , wherein the first detector device ( 30 ) and the second detection device ( 31 ) are designed as Hall sensors. 
     
     
         5 . The device ( 100 ) according to  claim 4 , wherein the first detection device ( 30 ) and the second detection device ( 31 ) are arranged with detection directions opposite to each other. 
     
     
         6 . The device ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the device ( 100 ) includes at least a third permanent magnet ( 42 ) and preferably a fourth permanent magnet ( 43 ), which are spaced apart from each other and whose magnetic poles are oppositely oriented, especially arranged in a spatial orientation different from that of the first and the second permanent magnets ( 40 ,  41 ). 
     
     
         7 . The device ( 100 ) according to  claim 6 , further comprising a third detection device ( 32 ) and preferably a fourth detection device ( 33 ). 
     
     
         8 . The device ( 100 ) according to  claim 7 , wherein the third detection device ( 32 ) and the fourth detection device ( 33 ) are designed as Hall sensors. 
     
     
         9 . The device ( 100 ) according to  claim 8 , wherein the third detection device ( 32 ) and the fourth detection device ( 33 ) are arranged with opposing detection directions, particularly with detection directions that differ from those of the first and second detection devices. 
     
     
         10 . The device ( 100 ) according to  claim 3 , wherein the first detection device ( 30 ) and the second detection device ( 31 ) are designed as Reed sensors. 
     
     
         11 . The device ( 100 ) according to  claim 6 , wherein the second detection device ( 31 ) is arranged laterally spaced from the first detection device along the direction of displacement. 
     
     
         12 . A method for determining the position of a vehicle seat that can be moved linearly along a seat rail ( 20 ) relative to a vehicle floor, the method comprising detecting the position of a first permanent magnet ( 40 ) and a second permanent magnet ( 41 ) using a first detection device ( 30 ). 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising detecting the position of the second permanent magnet ( 41 ) by means of a second detection device ( 31 ). 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the first detection device and a second detection device ( 30 ,  31 ) read magnetic fields of the first and the second permanent magnets ( 40 ,  41 ) which are aligned differently to one another.